HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. –Representatives from Hanscom helping organizations have come together to establish a Hanscom Resilience Cell to help members of the community respond to the effects of COVID-19.
Carolyn McCafferty, installation community support coordinator, and Jocelyn Foo, installation violence prevention integrator, are spearheading the cell and a new initiative called “Hanscom Connected.”
“It aligns with the Air Force Materiel Command ‘Connect’ program and emphasizes the way that we all work together,” said McCafferty. “We took the general concept of ‘Connect’ and applied it more directly to the Hanscom community.”
Members of the community can share their concerns, volunteer, request help, or make suggestions to programs by emailing HanscomResilienceCell@gmail.com.
The cell can also be reached via the Hanscom Connections Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HanscomCSC.
In response to a recent call for volunteers to assist in sewing face coverings for Hanscom service members, federal civilians and their families, McCafferty said there was an outpouring of those willing to step up, and the number of volunteers is still rising.
The face coverings must align with guidelines published by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, while still adhering to Department of Defense and Air Force dress and appearance regulations.
“Getting the materials to make the coverings is a little challenging because of Air Force uniform requirements,” said McCafferty. “We have to be careful because we don’t want to end up with a lot of material that we can’t use, so we are asking for people to check with us first.”
Foo said another popular volunteer opportunity has been at the commissary.
“We learned that the commissary needed help keeping their shelves stocked,” she said. “They were short on workers already, and with people self-quarantining, they didn’t have enough people and really needed assistance.”
Volunteers throughout the Hanscom community have been aiding employees by stocking shelves as delivery trucks arrive.
According to McCafferty, the recent efforts already have had a tremendous impact in building connections between Hanscom community members, and other volunteer opportunities and efforts are being developed.
“The beauty of this is that people are networking, sharing patterns and tips, and lifting themselves up,” she said. “They are coming together, doing beneficial work and helping our community.”
McCafferty and Foo believe that physical distancing doesn’t have to prevent us from socially connecting, and that connection between members will drive the mission forward.
“It’s been beautiful and uplifting to see to see how our community has come together to help each other,” said McCafferty.